Valve-operating means



sept. 6,1927. "1,641,561 A. C. WHIDDEN VALVE OPERATING MEANS Filed NOV. 5. 1926 r HU'llll/lllll 7g L'. Q 27 Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

UNITED AUSTIN C. WHIDDEN, F LANCASTER, CALIFORNIA.

VALVE-OPERATING MEANS.

Application filed November 3, 1928. Serial No. 145,922.

Y over the invention described and claimed in my copending application {iled October 11, 1926, Serial'Number 140,778.

My invention relates to fluid control de vices, and more particularly to novel means for opening and closing a plurality of valves that control from different sources the delivery of various characters and volumes of liquid ranging from a pure liquid delivered from only one source, through all degrees of mixture with liquid from the other source, to a pure liquid from the other source only.

This invention relates to valve operating means for double faucets, such as used in bath ltubs for mixing hot and cold water in varying proportions to temperatures of varying degrees, and delivering the water when so mixed.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel single control means of improved construction for operating the valves of standard double compression valve faucets.

An object is to provide a novel means for operating the valves of double faucets by a single control and which means will elec-J tively hold such valves closed or opened to' any desired degree until such means are operated in the proper manner by the user.

Another object is to provide a novel attachment for operating the valves of, and which may be easily and quickly applied to, a standard double faucet having compression valves. l

Features of the invention are shown in the4 construction, combination and arrangement of parts. f

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detail description and the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention in a form I at present deem preferable.

Figure 1 is a plan view of vmy invention as applied to a standard double faucet. rlhe upper housing member is removed to disclose interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section taken ori lineA 3-3, Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation `of my novel valve operating means shown applied to a double faucet, which is partly broken away to contract the view.

'cess bearin Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of one of the cam and rack units.

Fig. 6 is a transverse vertical section of ghe valve operating means taken on line 6--6,

My valve operating means A is shown applied to a standard double 4faucet B having a well known and standard construction of compression valves. r

The faucet B is preferably of standard construction that may be purchased on the open market and I do not make any claim in this application to such construction which as shown comprises the usual casting b, formed with inlets 1 and 2, mixing chamber 3 interposed between said inlets, outlet 4, and valve housings 5 and 6, in which are respectively seated screw or compression valves 7 and 8 for controlling the passage of cold and hot water from the inlets 1 and 2 into the mixing chamber 3. The valves 7 and 8 are each formed with a thread 9 which engage threads 10 in the valve housings 5 and 6 and by rotation of the valves 7, 8 such threads lower the valves onto their seats 11 'orraise the valves o their seats depending on the direction the valves are turned.

My invention comprises an attachment that may be easily and quickly and with a minimum of expense and labor attached to casting b without drilling holes therein, and comprises a pair of pinions 12 and 13 fitted for a sliding fit on the outer squared ends 14 and 15 of the valve stems 16 and 17 of valves 7 and 8, respectively; racks 18 and 19 meshing with said pinions, respectively; cam rollers 20 and 21 on the inner ends of rack frames 22 and 23, respectively; cam and rack unit 24 including cam 25 and rack 26; cam and rack unit 27 including cam 28 and rack 29; pinion 30 in mesh with racks 26 and 29; operating shaft 31 and operating handle 32 on said shaft; turn bearing 33; a housing enclosing the pinions 12, 13 and 3U, rack frames 22 ,and 23 and racks 18 and 19, cam and rack units 24 and 27, bearin 33, and the inner portion of shaft 3l; and a ase member 35 mounted on the faucet B and supporting the housing 34.

The racks 18 and 19 are formed on the inside of one side member of the rack frames 22 and 23 which are loop shaped, the side members of whichfraines are straight and parallel so as to engage the side walls of re- 36 and 37 formed in the housing 34 an in which vbearings said frames openings 43 and 44 through which the fau' cet valve housings 5 and 6l are respectively extended with the bar 40 restingupon the upper wall of the mixing chamber` 3.- Screw bolts 45 and 46 are extended through the ends of the housing member 42 and the ends of the bar 40. Nuts 47 and 48'screwed on the lower ends of said bolts engage the underside of said bar. Spacing sleeves 49 and 50 surround said bolts between the bar4 40 and the housing member 42 for properly spacing the ends of the housing and bar. II'he lower wall of the housing member 42 is provided with openings 51 and 52 through which extend the upper square ends 14 and 15 of the valve stems 16 and 17. An upper housing or cover member 53- issecured on the lower housing member 42 by means of screws 54 extending into tapped holes 54.

The turn bearing 33 is rotatably seated at y its base in a bearing 55 and a depending` journal 56 is formed on the under side of the turn bearing which journal is rotatably mounted in a socket bearing 57 formed 1n the upper end of the stud 41. The turn bearing 33 is provided with a pair of-spaced upstanding arms 58 and 59 in the upper ends of which are formed bearings 60 and 61 in which the inner end reduced portions 62 and 63, of shaft 31 are journalled. The portion 63 is squared at 64 and fitted in a square bore 65 in the pinion 30 which is held on the shaft between the arms 58 and 59 and in mesh with the racks 26 and 29, the rack 29 being slidably mounted between the turn bearing arms 58 and 59, and said arms are extended at their upper ends to straddle the rack 26 to prevent sidewise movement thereof.

The housing 34 is formed with a centrally disposed circular pocket having its center coincident with the axis of the stud 41 and vturn bearing 33, the lower housing member 42 being depressed and the upper housing member or cover 53 being raised to form said pocket, in which the cam and rack units 24 and 27, pinion 30 and rack frames 22 and 23 operate. The recess bearings 36 and 37 extend diametrically outward from the pocket 70 and receive the screw bolts 45 and.46 at their outer ends thus providing a circular housing having extensions thereon that extend outward therefrom.

The cams 25 and 28 are each formed with a grooved portion 71 that is concentric with the center of the turn bearing 33 and pocket 70, and with a grooved portion 72 that is a continuation of roove 71 and is eccentric to the center of said bearing and pocket.

The lower housing member 42 is formed with a depression 73 in the upper vedge of its front pocket wall which depression is closed at the top by the lower edge of the front pocket wall of the upper housing wall 53 thus forming a slot through which the shaft 31 extends. A collar 74 is pinned to the shaft 31 adjacent the inside of the front wall of the pocket 70 to prevent the shaft from being pulled out of its bearings 60.and 61. The handle 32 has a base flange 75 which engages the outside of the pocket wall and presents a finished appearance. Hand grips 6 extend at right angles from opposite 'sides` of the, outer end of the handle 32.

When it is desired to turn-on the cold water the handle 32 is swung to the left', whereupon the eccentric groove 72 of cam 25 engaging roller 20 moves the rack frame 22 `and rack 18 outwardly, and rotates the pin Vion 12 and `valve stem 16 clockwise, which opens the valve 7 and allows cold water to pass through inlet 1. mixing chamber 3 and outlet 4. During this operation the camy roller 21 travels in the concentric groove 71 of cam 28 and the rack 19 and pinion 13 remain at rest and the hot water valve ,8 re-.v i

mains closed.

When it is desired to turn on the hot water the handle 32 is swung to the right, where-l upon the eccentric groove 72 of camy 28 engaging roller 21 moves the rack frame 23 and rack 19 outwardly and rotates the pinion 13 counterclockwise. which opens the valve 8 and allows hotwater to pass through inlet 2, mixing chamber 3 and outlet 4. During this operation the roller 20 travels in the concentric groove 71 of cam 25 and the rack 18 and pinion 12 remain at rest and the cold water valve 7 remains closed.

Upon rotating the handle 32 clockwise the cam and` rack unit 24, rack frame 22 and rack 1S. and the cam and rack unit 27, rack frame 23 and rack 19 are moved outwardly, whereupon the pinion 12 is rotated clockwise by rack 18 and the cold water valve 9 opened, while the pinion 13 is rotated counterclockwise andthe hot lwater valve 8 opened, allowing cold water to pass through inlet 1 and hot water to pass through inlet 2 into the mixing chamber 3 where the hot loo and cold water are mixed in equal quantities I meneer ture is then dischar ed through the outlet 4.

By rotating the andle 32 clockwise and swinging the handle to the right, the hot water valve 8 is opened further than the cold water valve 7, whereupon a greater quantity of hot water is mixed with the flow 0f cold water in the mixing chamber and such mixture is then discharged through the outlet 4.

From the foregoing it is apparent that by operation of my valve operating means have provided a novel device in which the proportions of the liquid entering the mix- 1n chamber may be varied at any flow or vo ume up to full flow or maximum volume.A

Although I have shown my attachment as applied to a double faucet that has a common outlet, it is .apparent that my device may be attached to a series of two single faucets, which for the purpose of this application maybe considered a double faucet.`

1. The combination with a plurality of valves having valve stems to be operated; of pinions mounted on -said valve stems;

. means engaging said pinions to rotate said pinions; a handle mounted forl rotary and swinging movement; and means operably connected to saidl handle whereby said :first mentioned means may be operated to simultaneously open both of said valves by rotary movement ofsaid handle and to vopen one of said valves independent of the other by swinging movement of said handle.

2. The combination with a plurality of 'valves having valve stems to be operated, of

-' pinions non-rotatably and slidably mounted a handle adapted for rotary and swinging on said valve stems; racks' engaging saidv pinions; a handle mounted for-rotary and swinging movement; and means o erably connected to said handle and sai racks whereby said racks may be moved to open said valves in unison by rotary movement of said handle and to open one of said valves independent of the other by swinging movement of said handle.

3. The combination with, a plurality of valves having valve stems to be operated; of pinions mounted on said valve stems; racks engaging said pinions; rollers on said racks; members comprising a rack unit and a cam unit in engagement with said rollers;

movement; and a pinion non-rotatably mounted Aon said handle and in engagement withsaid rack units.

4. The combination with a pluralit of valves having valve stems to vbe operated; of

pinions mounted on said valve stems; racks engaging said pinions; rollers on said racks; members comprising a rack unit and a cam unit in engagement with said rollers; a turn bearing mounted for rotary movement and having upstanding arms straddling said rack units; a handle mounted in said turn bearing and adapted for swinging and rotary movement; and a pinion non-rotatably fixed to said handle betweenA said arms and being in engagement with said rack units.

5. In combination with a double faucet Aincluding screw valves; a valve operatingv mechanism comprising pinions secured on the valve stems of said valves; racks in mesh with said pinions; a pair of cam and Vrack units, the cams of said units being adapted and arranged when turned in one direction `to actuate one of said first mentioned racks to rotate its associated pinion; an operating shaft mounted to rotate and to swin to 'either' side; a pinion on said operating s aft 'shaft is rotated in one direction orthe other 4bothof said valves will be opened or closed through the medium of the operating shaft pinion, rack units in mesh with said pinion,

and 'said first mentioned racks and "valvev stem pinions.

6. In combination with a double faucet inl cluding screw valves; avalve operating mechanism comprising pinions secured on the stems of said valves; racks in mesh with said pinions; a turn bearing; an .operating shaft journaled in said turn bearing to rotate and toswin to either side; a pinion secured on said s aft; a pairv of cam and rack units, the racks of said units extending in opposite directions and meshing with said o erating shaft pinions, said cams being each ormed with a pgrtion concentric to the center of said turn tion eccentric to said turn bearing; ro 1ers associated with said first mentioned racks and being in engagement with said cs at ythe points between their concentric and eccentric ortions when the arts are in position wit both valves close the cams 'bein so arranged that when the operating sha is swung to either side one of said rollers will engage the eccentric portion lof. one cam while the other roller will engage the concentric portion of the other cam; and a handle on said shaft for rotating or swinging the shaft to either side.

7. lin combination with a double faucet including screw valves; a valve operating mechanism including a housing; means for mounting said housmg on said faucet; said housing bein formed with a centrally disposed vertica cylindrical pocket and with a pair of outwardly extending recess bearings; the valve stems of .said valves extending into said recess bearings; pinions on said valve stems in said recess bearings; rack fra-mes slidably mounted in said recess bearings and in which rack frames said pinions are respectively located; racks,4 in said rack frames aring and with a. or-

which mesh with said pinions, a turn bearing journaled in the center of said pocket; an operating shaft journaled in said turn bearing and extending outwardly through said pocket to be rotated and to be swung from side to side; a pinion on said shaft; a.

v pair of cam and rack units located in saidpocket with their racks extending 1n opposite directions and being in mesh with said operating shaft pinion on opposite sides thereof, said cams being each formed with a portion eccentric to the center of said turn bearing' and with a portion concentric to said turn bearing; the inner ends of said 15 rack fra-mes extending into said pocket;

rollers on the inner ends of said rack frames engaging said cams between their concentric and eccentric portions when said Valves are closed; the cams being so arranged that when the operating shaft is swung in either direction one of said rollers will engage the concentric portion o one cam while the other roller will engage the eccentric portion of the other cam; and a handle on the outer end.

of said operating shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set m hand at Lancaster, California, this 25th ay of October, 1926.

AUSTIN o. WHIDDEN. 

